Chapter 27
27
T he rest of our lunch goes by in a happy blur. Doug spends half of it making fun of us for how oblivious we’d been to each other’s attraction. We all crack up when he reminds us of when we went to the beach and I almost had a heart attack helping Ariana put sunscreen on her back. Running my hands over her back and shoulders was one of my favorite memories to jerk off to. Thinking about the goosebumps that rose on her delicate skin and the way her breathing sped up was enough to make me come every time. I always felt like such a damn creep afterwards, but now I know that Ari was having the same thoughts.
Ariana and I take the jokes in stride, both too relieved that Doug is happy about our relationship to tell him to shut up. It doesn’t hurt that discussing our cluelessness distracts Doug from thoughts of his breakup .
I can tell that he’s worried about what will happen if Ari and I break up. We all are. Replacing a friendship with a romantic partnership is tricky, but in my soul, I know Ariana is it for me. Maybe it’s foolish by human standards to invest my whole heart into this relationship so fast, but it’s not for a minotaur. Hell, I’ve held off my instincts to claim Ariana for almost a year. We aren’t moving too fast. I would’ve waited a lifetime for her, and now that she’s mine, there would have to be a cataclysmic event to tear us apart.
I get Doug’s promise not to skip our morning workouts this week, because I know this is going to be a rough time for him, despite his easy jokes and smiles right now. He needs something to keep him going each day while he works through his heartbreak. On his own, Doug offers to come help Ari on his lunch breaks, which to both his and my surprise, she accepts. Looks like both siblings are learning to lean into the support system we’ve created between the three of us, and I couldn’t be happier.
Ariana almost nods off on the car ride back to my place, so I guide her to the bedroom as soon as we get inside. She licks her lips and gives me a sleepy, seductive smile. “Mmm, back in bed already?”
I laugh as she reaches out toward the fly of my jeans and dodge out of the way. “Yeah. My baby girl needs to take a nap.”
Ariana’s face scrunches in displeasure. “I’m not an actual baby that needs to be told to take a nap.” She immediately follows her words with an enormous yawn.
I raise a brow at her. “Could have fooled me.” My cock twitches to life at her bratty tone, but she’s way too tired for me to give her the punishment that’s been brewing. Not before she gets some rest.
She sits up and scrubs her face with her hands. “Fine, if you don’t want to fuck me, then I’ll work on some stuff.” Tension suffuses her body and her ey es widen. “ Shit . I haven’t checked my emails at all today. I need to follow up with that vendor and check on my shop orders.”
Placing my hand in the center of her chest, I gently push her back onto the bed. “No. You need to rest.”
She glares up at me in exasperation. “I can’t take a nap! I’m all for the daddy roleplay, but I’m an adult woman with adult shit that needs to get done.”
This is a turning point for us. Do I let it go and allow her to exhaust herself even more because she’s too stubborn to let herself take a break? Or do I dig my hooves in?
The dark circles under her eyes make the decision for me. I snatch her phone away from where it sits next to her on the bed and shove it into my pocket. “Take. A. Nap. Your business can wait a few more hours and if you don’t rest, you’re going to burn out. You’re setting boundaries with your work, starting now.”
“You can’t just proclaim that! I decide when that starts,” she protests.
“Not anymore. We agreed that I’m your daddy, Ari. That means that it’s my job to take care of you. Not just during sex.” I increase the pressure of my palm on her chest, observing her expression to see if I’ve pushed too far. She lets out a shuddering sigh and some of her indignant tension releases under the weight of my palm.
Good.
Ariana’s submissive side needs this as much as I do. I don’t pretend to know everything that’s best for her, but I sure as hell can figure out when she needs to rest before she completely collapses. I lock my eyes on hers and deepen my voice. “That’s better. I already have a list of things to discipline you for. Do you want to make your punishment worse? Or will you be a good girl and get some sleep?”
She furrows her brow in a weak show of frustration, but the fight has a lready bled out of her. “I…”
When she doesn’t say anything else, I continue. “Use your safeword and I’ll let it go. Whatever you decide is okay with me.” The second part of that is a bit of a stretch. I won’t be upset with her, but I don’t think there’s any way I can stop myself from worrying about Ari. That worry has no bearing on my respect for her decision. What matters most to me is that she gets to choose. She’s the one that’s in control, no matter how much I command her.
Ariana’s pupils expand at the mention of her safeword, and I watch her silently as she grapples with the decision. After a minute, she nods. “Okay.”
My hand moves from her chest to stroke up her neck and then up to her ponytail, where I ease the elastic off. She groans when I sink my fingers into her loose waves, massaging her scalp. At first, her breathing speeds up, and she squirms a little as my other hand digs into her hair. I file away the knowledge that this turns her on with a smile.
Eventually, she relaxes further and my heart squeezes with love and pride when she falls asleep. I reluctantly remove my hands from her hair and ease myself off the bed. I’d love to lie here with her while she sleeps, but there’s more I need to do today. Ariana rolls over onto her side and the sound of gentle snoring fills the room, so I have a feeling she’ll be out for a while.
Once I’ve left her peacefully sleeping in my bedroom, I head to the living room and pull up the monster support group chat on my phone. There’s a chance Ari isn’t going to be happy with me for taking the initiative on something for her business without asking her, but she’s needed an assistant for months and hasn’t found the time to look for one. She can be mad at me all she wants, as long as it ends with her being able to manage her workload better.
Wesley: This may be a long shot, but do any of you know someone looking for part-time work?
Susan: Where at? Your office? There’s no way I’m asking someone I know to become a corporate stooge. I don’t care how much they pay you.
I chuckle at the harpy’s hypocritical distaste for my job. Susan works at a company even bigger than mine, but she loves to rant about how corporate culture is destroying our lives.
Wesley: No, it’s for my girlfriend. Her online shop is taking off, and she needs a personal assistant. Figured I’d check with you first since some of the work will be at her place, and there’s no way I want some rando in her home alone with her.
Nik: Your girlfriend?
I can’t tell if Nik forgot my confession about being with Ariana at our meeting, or if he’s pretending not to know.
Wesley: Ariana. Doug’s sister.
Sage: Oh, she’s such a sweetheart! I wish I knew someone to help her out. I just ordered one of her cat hoodies for my partner. She’s so talented. Please tell her I’m a fan of her art. Or I can tell her myself. We should have a party to celebrate you getting together!
Susan: Why? It’s not like they’re engaged.
Nik: A party sounds like a great idea.
I can easily imagine the bear shifter’s chipper tone as he completely ignores Susan’s negativity. He’s a pro at trying to keep a conversation going despit e her jibes.
Sage: Yay! Look at your calendar and let me know what dates work for you.
Ren: Will there be any other humans at this party?
Susan: Ugh, dude, you’ve got to chill. You’re so thirsty for humans, it’s getting weird.
Ren: There’s nothing weird about looking for a mate. Tomas and Max found humans, and now Wesley too.
Max: What’s this about a party?
Sage: We’re throwing a party for Wesley and his new girlfriend, Ariana.
Sage: Wait. Does Doug know you’re together?
Susan: @Doug you know Wesley banging your sister, right?
Gods, really Susan? I wish she could feel my glare through the phone.
Doug: Yes. Please stop talking about them banging. I know they’re together and I’m cool with it.
Doug: A party would be nice.
As sweet as the offer to throw us a new relationship party is, I let out a frustrated sigh. A party isn’t going to help Ariana be any less busy.
A few minutes pass as Sage and Nik discuss options for party themes, while Susan interjects with snarky comments. I don’t want to seem like an ungrateful jerk, so I hold off from directing the conversation back to finding a personal assistant. Thankfully, Tomas pops in and does it for me.
Tomas: I’ll ask Caleb about helping Ariana. His job is freelance and very flexible, and he mentioned wanting to find something else to do with his time. Does she need any help with accounting, too?
Wesley: I’ll check, but I think she needs help anywhere she can get it. Her business exploded in popularity and she’s doing her best to keep her head above water, but it’s too much for one person. Thank you for checking with Caleb. He’d be perfect if he’s available!
A minute later, I get a separate text from Tomas.
Tomas: Hey! I didn’t want to mention this with the group, but Caleb working with Ariana would be great. It’s not that he needs the money—though he wouldn’t say no to some kind of compensation. It’s just, he’s anxious around new people, and is having a really hard time making connections with other humans in the area. I mentioned spending time with Max’s partner, Mona, but he felt too awkward about “bothering” her. Having a job to do while he’s spending time with Ariana might make it easier for him to connect. Please don’t tell Caleb I brought this up. I’d selfishly keep him all to myself, but I know he wants more friends.
Oh man, I knew Caleb was shy, but I didn’t realize it was that bad. No wonder my texting him so much freaked him out. Caleb is such a nice guy. I know Ariana would love him.
I try not to get too excited about the prospect, but he could be exactly what Ariana needs.
Wesley: I won’t say anything to him. I think it ’d be great for Ariana, too. Have Caleb text me if he’s interested. That is, if he hasn’t blocked my number after my questions about the magic lube.
Tomas: Haha he was definitely flustered, but I think it made him happy to have someone new to talk to. Fingers crossed, he likes the idea of working for Ariana as much as we do.
Only fifteen minutes pass before I get a message from Caleb letting me know he’s interested in the job and to have Ariana text him with details so they can see if he’s a good fit. I already know he is, but I pretend that she’ll want to vet him.
I set my phone down with an excited grin plastered on my face. My chest swells with pride at finding a potential solution to some of Ariana’s stress. Now I just have to tell her the good news and hope she doesn’t get mad I asked around without checking with her first. If words won’t appease her, maybe I can coax her to an understanding in another way.